Been To See The Doctor Today...

A little bit further forward...Doctor thinks these violent headaches I wake up with are a symptom of the CO2 retention rather than me painting and varnishing...have to agree with him 'cos paint has never affected me before...the plan is to wait 'til the end of the week and if I'm still getting them, he'll arrange an urgent appointment with the Consultant .

He asked did I have the ph no of the respiratory nurse to ask her advice and I said certainly not...she's a patronising cow who doesn't hold with old women dragging oxygen cylinders about...he laughed...said he couldn't imagine anyone daring to patronise me.

Says I ought to have been offered a Medic Alert bracelet by the Hospital and to ask next time I go...and he also suggested asking for a wheelchair, especially in time for the winter...then I can still get fresh air without freezing to death because of not walking fast enough...

Saw the nurse to have the injection for the osteoporosis...back to the chemist for prescriptions to be filled...includes one for a cough type syrup said to 'loosen the mucous' hope it does the trick because no amount of huffing is shifting it at the moment and I swear it festers in lungs conjuring up all manner of nasties...

Then we came home for a nice cup of tea...

[redted]

Your doctor seems to have a sense of humour about the grumpy nurse,how do you feel about the wheelchair? Sounds like a good idea for winter.

What causes CO2 retention,here's hoping you get to the bottom of the problem,and that the meds work.

How come you can even make a visit to the Drs sound interesting Lol.

[Hidden in reply to redted]

I don't mind the thought of a wheelchair you know...I can't walk far and am sooo slow...it'd be lovely to just go down our road on a sunny afternoon in December!

I haven't the faintest idea why some people are CO2 retentive and others aren't...it's a blooming nuisance though...

[redted in reply to Hidden]

So the wheelchair is a go,it will make a big difference for you, hope you don't have to wait long for it.put your order in quick,quick,Lol

[piggi]

Aw you did really well to cope with all that lot. Really hope you're feeling better soon x

[Hidden in reply to piggi]

I don't mind too much...never have to wait at our surgery which is a good thing...just worry a little bit in case the Doc packs me off to hospital...he's done that before now!

[scorpiolass]

Pleased you are on track to get it sorted. Sounds like your Dr is sweet and balances out sour lemon drops. Love Margaret x

[Hidden in reply to scorpiolass]

He's lovely Margaret...young, but seems to be genuinely interested in his patients...the practice nurse is a sweetheart and the two receptionists are friendly and helpful...we're extremely lucky.

[AmethystAngel]

I have read a few threads now where 'huffing' is mentioned... Being a newbie ish to this site I'm presuming you make a huffing noise n that the action helps clear any gunk, have I understood this correctly?

Hugs x

[DecD in reply to AmethystAngel]

Hi, Amethyst

Two really, really big breaths - big means even after inhaling, hold your breath a few seconds and try to "swallow" a little more air, then let it out. Breath in a 3rd time and then forcefully exhale in short huffs, making as much noise as you can. This should help to clear the mucous. Try the sequence a few times. Apparently, it gets easier to do and easier to shift the mucous with practice.

Good luck,

Dec

[AmethystAngel in reply to DecD]

Thank you Dec... Have made a note for future ref as I'm sure it will come in useful.

[peege in reply to AmethystAngel]

Look up Huffing Tecnique on YouTube. Lots of helpful clips on there including different breathing tecniques

[Hidden in reply to DecD]

Found myself obediently taking deep breaths while reading this Dec...lol

[Colours23]

Enjoyed your tea,I know those kind of visits are so exhausting , blimey they all need cheering up at docs, the first time my doctor met me ,he just started laughing at me, was it somthing I said??? It livens them up to have a Different person come in the door ,full of life and humar .i don't get on very well with the nurses that are in my face.....like you a independent free spirit and will not be controlled, put in a box.n labelled!!! Far too creative to be standardised.we do not fit into.boxes..... Free spirit.....

[Hidden in reply to Colours23]

Never fitted neatly in someone else's ideas of how I ought to behave or dress...not going to do it now!

[MarieW-F]

There is no pain like a CO2 retention headache. Vicious little beasts aren't they? I tend not to suffer anymore now I have my breathing back under control but when I don't and I am put in a position when I can't pace myself or I am anxious they come back with a vengeance. I am glad though that you have an answer.

Marie x

[Hidden in reply to MarieW-F]

Horrible aren't they? I'm rather wondering if they suddenly began with me because I've been doing such a lot recently...almost a way of telling you to stop!

[MarieW-F in reply to Hidden]

Yes - its always when I have been doing too much or rushing. very painful and a definite signal to slow down.

[knitter]

Hi Vashti, do you have saline nebules that you can use in your nebuliser. I find them useful for loosening the gunk....but I remember someone on this site saying their chest got tighter using them. Everyone is different.

Hope you have a better day today. Take care

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

I have tried them before but they simply did nothing for me at all...weird how differently we all react isn't it?

[Nikkers]

Good morning Vashti

I've not been getting any daily posts for quite a few days and was unaware you'd not been well? It's awful when you have a headache - it seems to take over your life. I am not one who suffers with them, thank goodness, but I went on the "pill" in the 1970's for a while and it caused me to have migraines! That was horrendous, and I had to stop using them. I do hope they can help you, as I'm sure you already have enough to contend with already without any added agonies?

Good for you voicing your opinion about the nurse, I tend to be vocal also and my GP always laughs. I will not be spoken down to by someone who thinks they're better than me because they wear a uniform! I don't even go for my annual COPD assessment anymore for fear of getting in a argument with the woman that does it - never did me any good anyway. Good luck. XXX

[Hidden in reply to Nikkers]

I do think one of the problems nowadays is the fact that nurses are highly trained in dealing with machinery but not so well able to deal with people...I simply don't speak to her now unless there isn't a choice.

[sassy59]

Hope you enjoyed your cup of tea Vashti - you deserved it after all that. Good luck to you and hope you can be helped very soon.

FYI - you are not old and I cannot ever imagine anyone patronising you, nor getting away with it.

Take care. xxxxx

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Offcut has given me an excellent idea...which I shall use with relish!

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes vashti, do that! Take care xxxxx

[Offcut]

I was tested once for CO2 as I do suffer evil headaches. They even wake me up in bed. I tend to get them more often when I have been doing more than usual?

As for Mrs stroppy bottom, try replying to her with her name wrong but similar to her own. But you must get everyone else 100% correct.

I hope it all improves soon and you enjoy the tea.

Be Well

[Hidden in reply to Offcut]

That is such an excellent idea about her name...it's one that can be very easily altered as well...

I've had several of what's usually called blood gases taken...that was how I was diagnosed as being retentive...no-one told me about the symptoms though, until my overall care was transferred to the present hospital...

These headaches are crippling...if there's any way of getting rid of them then I'll take it...lol

[peege]

Well deserved cuppa then. Very glad your doc is on the ball. X

[Hidden in reply to peege]

So am I...!

[Dragonmum]

Get the wheelchair before the winter Vashti - I so admire how you always accentuate the positive, but it does no harm to take a breather now and again, and I really think it would add a lot of quality to your life. Will "Himself" be pushing it - I think you'd prefer a powered one! Keep on keeping on girl, onward and upward is the watchword.

[Dragonmum]

P.S A lot of nurses are just glorified technicians these days, but there are still some truly vocational ones.